Is apostasy illegal in the United Kingdom?

Legal

Apostasy is legal in the UK, with organizations like CEMB supporting ex-Muslims and no legal penalties for leaving Islam, though social stigma exists.

The United Kingdom is one of 4 countries classified “Legal” for apostasy — 13% of the 30 with data. (Also searched as leaving a religion.)

Source

Taken from: Wikipedia: Apostasy in Islam by country
Last checked: 7 July 2026
How it was classified: Classified by a language model from the source text, then checked against hand-verified reference countries.

Nearby countries

Netherlands: Legal Netherlands guarantees freedom of religion and expression, with no legal penalties for leaving Islam.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Criminal offense Apostasy from Islam in Bosnia and Herzegovina was punishable by death until the Edict of Toleration in 1844, after which it could result in imprisonment or deportation.
Tunisia: Legal Tunisia's 2014 Constitution protects citizens from prosecution for renouncing Islam, making apostasy legal and prohibiting accusations of apostasy and incitement to violence.
Algeria: Criminal offense Apostasy in Algeria is illegal, with family law stating that if either spouse is an "apostate" from Islam, the marriage will be declared null and void.
Morocco: Criminal offense Morocco's Supreme Council of Religious Scholars issued a fatwa calling for death penalty for apostasy, though it was later retracted.
Libya: Death penalty possible Libya's General National Council voted to make Sharia law the basis for legislation, which can include death penalty for atheism.

Other laws in United Kingdom

Blasphemy Laws: No blasphemy law
Holocaust Denial: No specific law
Flag Desecration: Legal / protected speech
Conversion Therapy: Partial ban

Every law in the United Kingdom → · Where is apostasy illegal? →

A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.